2. Edexcel Update August 2013
Dr David Davies Education Consultant Pearson
Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

3. Largest awarding body in the UK
UK Government
Stakeholders
Implement QCA standards
Design and develop qualifications in conjunction with employers, professional associations and educators
Obtain accreditation from QCA for qualifications
Approve, train and support educators to deliver our qualifications
Quality control educators and learning programmes
Educators
(schools, colleges and universities)
National training authorities
Establish objectives and educational policies
Determine standards to achieve educational objectives
Professional Associations
Employers
(business and Gov)
Accredit 3rd party qualifications

4. Edexcel qualifications: The Complete Solution
QCF Level
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
Edexcel Qualifications
Academic
Vocational (BTEC)
Level 7
M (masters)
Masters degrees, postgraduate certificates and diplomas
BTEC
Professional
Level 6
H (honours)
Bachelor degrees, graduate certificates and diplomas
BTEC Higher National Graduate Diploma*
Level 5
I (intermediate) 
Diplomas of higher education and further education, foundation degrees and higher national diplomas
BTEC Higher National Diploma
Level 4
C (certificate)
Certificates of higher education
BTEC Higher National Certificate
Specialist
Level 3
GCE (A) Levels (A* - E)
BTEC Nationals
Level 2
GCSE (A*-C) / International GCSEs
BTEC Firsts
Level 1
GCSE (D-G) / International GCSEs
BTEC Foundation Learning
Entry Level
Basic skills 4
* Currently in development. First UK teaching September 2011. 4

5. Edexcel Academic Qualifications
Edexcel offers two main suites of academic qualifications- GCE A levels and International GCSEs
GCE A levels are two-year courses designed for students aged 16-18
The first year of the GCE A level is known as the AS and can be separately certificated if required
Edexcel’s GCE A levels are regulated by the UK Regulator Ofqual
GCE A levels are accepted for university entry by all universities in the UK and many universities around the world, e.g. USA (Harvard, Yale), Australia, New Zealand, Canada etc.
International GCSEs are two-year courses designed for students aged which prepare students for GCE A levels 5 5

6. Edexcel GCE A Levels – the specifics

7. Immediate Changes to existing Edexcel A levels from September 2013
From September 2013 students in England will no longer be able to take Edexcel A level examinations in January; all examinations will be in June only
Students who started in September 2012 and who will be finishing their course in June 2014 will be able to take examinations in June 2013 and June 2014 only
In certain subjects students who will be finishing their course in January 2014 will be able to finish their A levels in January 2014
AS and A2 examinations for existing specifications will be available in June 2013, June 2014, June 2015 and June 2016
Ofqual has decided that there will be no further opportunities for examinations in the January examination series after January Students who started a two-year A level course in September 2012 will be able to take examinations in June 2013 and June 2014 only. AS and A2 examinations for existing specifications will be available in June 2013, June 2014, June 2015 and June 2016.
Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

8. A level Reform from September 2015
A levels revised for teaching from September 2015
First assessment in June 2016 for revised AS and in June 2017 for revised A Level
Revised specifications introduced in ‘facilitating’ subjects. i.e. those most commonly required for university entry
Facilitating subjects will be introduced in September 2015: Mathematics and Further Mathematics, English (Language, Language and Literature and Literature), Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography)
Plus: Psychology, Art and Design, Business Studies, Economics
Edexcel A levels will be revised for teaching from September The first assessment of the revised specifications will be in June 2016 for revised AS and in June 2017 for revised A2. Revised specifications will be introduced initially in ‘facilitating’ subjects. i.e. those which are most commonly required for university entry.
Universities will provide advice on content in facilitating subjects
The following specifications in facilitating subjects will be introduced in September 2015:
Mathematics and Further Mathematics
English (Literature)
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
History
Geography
Languages (Classical and Modern).
Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

9. Introduction of revised Edexcel A levels from September 2015
The revised Edexcel A levels will be designed for schools in England and in international schools
The specifications will be ‘linear’- i.e. all examinations will be taken at the end of the course
The specifications will be examined in the June examination series only
A full suite of A level and AS specifications will be available
All specifications will be regulated by Ofqual and will carry the Ofqual logo on certificates
A revised suite of Edexcel A levels in facilitating subjects will be introduced for first teaching from September 2015 and first assessment in June 2017.The revised Edexcel A levels will be designed for schools in England and in international schools. The specifications will be ‘linear’- i.e. all examinations will be taken at the end of the course. The specifications will be examined in the June examination series only. A full suite of A level and AS specifications will be available
All specifications will be regulated by Ofqual and will carry the Ofqual logo on certificates
Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

10. Introduction of revised Edexcel AS Specifications from September 2015
AS specifications will become ‘stand-alone’ qualifications which can be taken over one or two years
AS specifications will not contribute to A level results
AS specifications will encourage curriculum breadth
AS specifications will be broadly at their current standard
First assessment of the new AS will be in June 2016
AS specifications will become ‘stand-alone’ qualifications which can be taken over one or two years. AS specifications will not contribute to A level results. AS specifications will cover half the A level content. AS specifications will be examined at the same standard as A levels.
The first assessment of the new AS will be in June 2016.
Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

11. International Advanced Level Qualifications – the specifics

12. Introduction of new International Advanced level and AS Specifications from September 2013
A suite of Advanced level and AS specifications for international centres for first teaching in September 2013
Specifications content designed to meet specific needs of international centres
Modular structure. Examinations in June and January. First examination in January 2014
Unit re-sit opportunity
AS contributes to A level
A suite of Advanced level and AS specifications for international centres for first teaching in September 2013 and first examination in June 2015 will be introduced in key subjects. The specifications will be designed to meet the specific needs of international centres with content relevant to international centres where appropriate. They will be examined on a ‘modular’ basis with examinations in June and January of each year from September Both Advanced level and AS specifications will be available. AS will contribute to the A level results
There will be an opportunity to re-sit individual units.
Flexible entry of units will be available.
Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

13. New Advanced level and AS Specifications from September 2013- continued
Enter students for a combination of Edexcel A levels and the new International Advanced levels
e.g. enter for English Literature with Edexcel A levels and for Science with the new International Advanced Levels
We will ensure that the qualifications are recognised by universities in the UK, US, Australia etc in the same way as Edexcel A levels
It will be possible for schools to enter students for a combination of Edexcel A levels and the new Advanced level suite. Progression routes will be available for students who wish to proceed to universities in the UK, USA, Australia etc. The specifications will be accepted by universities in the UK, US, Australia etc in the same way as Edexcel A levels.
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14. New International Advanced level and AS - Subjects Available
Revised structure
Mathematics, Pure Mathematics and Further Mathematics
Structure unchanged
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Economics
Business Studies
Accounting- 2 papers
Law- 2 papers (linear)
The following subjects will be available for first teaching from September 2013:
Mathematics, Pure Mathematics and Further Mathematics- 6 units
Biology- 6 units
Chemistry-6 units
Physics- 6 units
Economics- 4 units
Business Studies- 4 units
Accounting- 2 units
Law- 2 units (linear)
Other subjects will be added to the suite at a later stage.
Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

15. New International Advanced level and AS Specifications - Timeline
End of April
Outline of new specifications
May/June
Draft specifications and sample assessment materials
Subject-specific Training in May for Business Studies, Economics and Mathematics
October
Final specifications and sample assessment materials
January 2014
First unit examination
It is possible to teach a combination of Edexcel A levels and International Advanced levels at the same time. For example, a student wishing to take Mathematics, Science and Geography, could take the Advanced Level Mathematics and Science and the Edexcel A level in Geography.
The Mathematics and Science A levels will be available in January and June and the Advanced level Geography will only be available in June.
Many other similar combinations are also available.
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16. Students who need to complete their A levels in January 2014
Ofqual has agreed that we can offer the same exams we currently offer in these subjects in January for one more sitting in January 2014 in the following subjects:
Mathematics
Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
Economics
Business Studies
Accounting
Students can cash in as planned to complete their A levels
NB The specification and assessment remain unchanged.
Students will be awarded an Edexcel International Advanced level, regulated by Pearson.
For other subjects examinations will be available in June only.
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17. Students wishing to complete their Edexcel GCE A levels in June 2014
Students who are planning to complete their A levels in June 2014 will not be able to sit an examination in January 2014
They will be able to complete their courses in June 2014 as planned
Centres entering for Accounting, Law and the written paper options for Biology, Chemistry and Physics will receive an International Advanced Level in place of an A level.
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18. Edexcel GCE A level Mathematics and Edexcel International Advanced level Mathematics
The Edexcel International Advanced level Mathematics will have three specifications: Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Further Mathematics
The following units will be available from January 2014:
Core Mathematics 1 and 2 (available as one unit)
Core Mathematics 3 and 4 (available as one unit)
Further Pure Mathematics 1, Mechanics 1, 2 and 3, Statistics 1 and 2 and Decision Mathematics 1
In addition, the following units will be available from June 2014: Further Pure Mathematics 2 and 3 and Statistics 3
Further information is available at:
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19. Edexcel International Advanced level Economics and Business Studies
There will be some new content added in the International Advanced level Economics specification.
All four units in the International Advanced level Economics specification will be equally weighted.
The content of the International Advanced level Business Studies will be updated with an international synoptic unit.
All four units in the International Advanced level Business Studies specification will be equally weighted.
Both specifications will be available in the January and the June examination series with effect from January 2014
Further information is available on: .
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20. University Recognition of International Advanced Levels
A large number of universities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere have recognised International Advanced Levels for entry purposes in the same way that they accept Edexcel A levels, including the following:
Hong Kong: The University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
United Kingdom: University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh,
King’s College, London, and more than 40 others
Also leading universities in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland etc
More universities are being added to the list on a weekly basis
The full list of university recognition is available here:
ial-recognition4.pdf 20
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21. Recognition of International Advanced Levels by UK NARIC
UK NARIC, the National Recognition Centre for the United Kingdom, is the national agency responsible for providing information and expert opinion on qualifications and skills worldwide
UK NARIC has compiled a draft Report on ‘Benchmarking the Edexcel International A level against the GCE A level’
The study looked at the following IAL subjects: Accounting, Business Studies, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Law, Physics and Mathematics
Using NARIC’s well-established methodology for benchmarking qualifications, the Report considered: programme design, entry requirements and progression, course content and structure, learning outcomes, assessment framework, including assessment objectives, methods and performance descriptors 21
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22. Recognition of International Advanced Levels by UK NARIC- 2
A review of quality assurance processes was also conducted, taking into account external marking, standardisation, certification, and examination and assessment development.
The study found that the assessment frameworks in Biology, Chemistry and Physics align with Edexcel GCEs in these subjects, the core content of the Mathematics aligns to that covered in the Edexcel GCE Mathematics, and that the design and structure of the IALs in Law, Accounting, Economics and Business Studies, related closely to the Ofqual Subject Criteria, but also included additional topics appropriate for international candidates
The study concluded overall that ‘the Edexcel International A levels is considered comparable to the overall GCE A level standard’ 22
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23. We want to provide the widest possible choice to you and your students
Our promise to you
We appreciate that there is a great deal of change - we will always be here to help and support you
We are committed to providing high quality qualifications that meet the needs of all our learners
We want to provide the widest possible choice to you and your students
You can be confident that all our qualifications will provide progression pathways into Higher Education
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24. Pearson GCE and IAL Helpdesk
Tel number:
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25. Thank you Questions please?